As we enter Step 2 of the Government’s Roadmap out of lockdown, the Tyneside Group office has fully reopened today, with staff returning to work in our Picton Manor office on Ellison Place.

Estate and Letting Agents have been permitted to remain open throughout this most recent UK lockdown, with activities related to the sale and rental of property continuing.

Our city centre office was made completely Covid-secure in 2020, with the installation of full height double-glazed screens to separate our reception area and main office, hand sanitising stations and foot-pull door openers to reduce touching of shared surfaces.

Desks have been spaced out and dividing screens installed, allowing our office to operate safely at full capacity if needed.

Even so, as the UK re-entered tougher restrictions during the winter, we took the decision to move all staff to majority home-working and our office has been largely closed during this time.

The welfare of our staff and tenants is our top priority, so it was the right decision for us to minimise the risk for everyone. We have robust systems in place, which have allowed all the Tyneside Group companies to continue to operate throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

As non-essential retail reopens this week, our office is opening its doors as well. The office will continue to operate on an appointment-only basis for the time being and staff will still carry out as many activities as possible online to reduce unnecessary contact, but we all hope this is another step towards a return to a new normal working life for us all.